Perhaps you have noticed the news about the increase in domestic violence during this COVID-19 stay-at-home order. Police report a major increase in calls to homes where there is violence—parent-child, spouse-spouse. In France it was reported that the majority of police calls were for domestic violence. I’ve also read that calls to divorce lawyers have increased significantly. The negative impact of COVID-19 is tragic in many ways. 

I personally know of several domestic situations where marital and familial stress have exploded. Job stress—working from home [or no work at all]. Financial worries. Kids home from school with little structure to guide them (or parents challenged to provide it while working). This situation is like a pressure cooker with no release valve—irritations and stress build up and, with no place to go, there is no way to release the pressure. Sound familiar?

At its deepest level it is a matter of control. We like to think we control our lives most of the time. At least that is how we try to live. But now with these outside pressures on us and no clear end in sight we feel lost, unbalanced, out of control. And the harder we struggle to gain control the more agitated we get. Others pay the emotional price.

Those who have “let go and let God” are probably doing better with this than those who fight for control. In Colossians we are told, “…as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7). It is foundational to our faith that we realize that all that we have and all that we are come from and go to God. Our lives are not our own. They belong to Christ who claimed us in Baptism. We are not the center of the Universe. There is another Center who graciously and lovingly wraps us in love now and for eternity. When we release ourselves from a control focus to a trust focus, the pressure cooker feeling is also released.

Easy? No way. Every situation needs to be addressed with sensitivity and wisdom…perhaps with the help of a mental health professional. But maybe a good start is regularly praying the simple prayer, “Lord, have mercy”. Living in that trust and humility will help us find a better Center for our lives than ourselves… and give us the inner peace we need.

– Pastor Rolf Olson

See our this page on our website for some helpful resources:

Prayer

Lord, I confess that I want to be in control.  But I am not. This scares me. In this confusing time, when even the “experts” are not sure what is next, I turn to you. “Lord, have mercy”…on me, on those around me, on our world. For your sake. Amen.